Council reserves option to object to retail liquor permits after Commerce notice

Director Alber told the council he had received a notice from the Ohio Department of Commerce that retail liquor-permit objections must be postmarked by May 2, 2024. He said he did not currently anticipate problems but would check with the police and fire departments and could bring one or more resolutions if concerns surfaced.

"If we would have to have a resolution concerning them I would bring it up next at our next meeting," Director Alber said, and added he would confirm whether any local public-safety concerns warranted an objection.

Miss Housefelt moved and Mr Estep seconded a motion to place, if needed, a resolution or ordinance on the table to enable the council to register objections to retail liquor permits; the motion passed unanimously. Council members noted that historically they have not objected to permits unless the police or fire chiefs reported a specific issue.

The motion preserves the council's ability to object before the state deadline if staff or the chiefs identify public-safety reasons to do so; no formal objection was filed at this meeting.